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When you dictate with Mumble, a small panel appears showing your transcribed text. Before releasing your shortcut, you can press an arrow key to transform the output. This is how you go from raw speech to clean text, bullet points, translations, or any custom format in a single step.

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How the panel works

  1. Hold your dictation shortcut (Fn by default, customizable in Settings > Shortcut) and start speaking.
  2. While still holding, press an arrow key to choose an output format (optional).
  3. Release to insert the result at your cursor.
If you don’t press any arrow key, Mumble uses the default action (← clean text).

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Output actions

While holding your dictation shortcut, press an arrow key to pick how your speech is processed. The selected action highlights in the panel. ← Left arrow: Clean up. Polishes your speech into clean text. Fixes grammar, punctuation, and formatting. This is the default.
Dictation Default
↑ Up arrow: Bullets. Formats your speech as a bullet point list.
Dictation Bullet
→ Right arrow: Open. Extracts a URL from your speech and opens it in the browser.
Dictation Open
↓ Down arrow: Custom action. Applies your custom prompt to transform the text. You need to set this up first (see below).
Dictation Custom
, Comma: Emoji. Cancels dictation and opens the macOS emoji keyboard. Esc: Cancel. Cancels dictation without inserting anything.

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Set up a custom action

The ↓ key triggers whatever custom prompt you define. To set it up:
  1. Go to Settings > Dictation.
  2. Toggle on “Custom ↓ action prompt”.
  3. Write your prompt in the text area.
  4. During dictation, press ↓ to apply it.
If the custom action is not configured, the ↓ option appears grayed out in the panel.
Custom action prompt setting

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Custom action ideas

Your prompt can be anything that transforms text. A few examples:
  • Translate. “Translate into Spanish.” Dictate in English and get Spanish output.
  • Change tone. “Rewrite in a formal, professional tone.” Turn casual speech into polished writing.
  • Shorten. “Condense to one paragraph.” Get a tight summary of a longer thought.
  • Reformat. “Rewrite as a numbered step-by-step guide.” Turn spoken instructions into structured steps.